Before gastric bypass, food (see arrows) enters your stomach and passes into the small intestine. After surgery, the amount of food you can eat is reduced due to the smaller stomach pouch. Food is also redirected so that it bypasses (see shaded areas) most of your stomach and the first section of your small intestine (duodenum). Food flows directly into the middle section of your small intestine (jejunum), limiting absorption of calories. (Mayoclinic.com)
I have Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points — places on your body where slight pressure causes pain. I have spoken with my Rhuemetologist and it's thought that the cause of Fibromyalgia are overactive nerve endings. Basically my nerves are more sensitive than most so I experience chronic pain and when I hit my arm or leg on something it hurts longer than it would in a normal person.
So with the knowledge that I do not absorb pain medicines very well at all and that I am in a constant state of pain how do I manage this? I am taking Physical Therapy three times a week. Twice a week I do Aquatic Physical Therapy and once a week I'm in the clinic. It's helping which I appreciate. My pain does not occur as often or last as long as it had but it's not enough. When I'm in pain, which is frequently, liquid Tylenol doesn't work. I haven't tried muscle relaxants yet which are actually listed as a way to treat the pain but I'm concerned about the sides effects. Such as dizziness and so on. I have taken liquid Vicodin called Lortab and it helps but it doesn't take the pain away completely. Even liquid Vicodin isn't absorbed completely so it doesn't work like it should. The problem with it is that I need to be able to function. I need to be able to drive, take my daughter to daycare, get to appointments, go grocery shopping and so on. That's hard to do when you're sleepy and dizzy from a narcotic.
Normal day to day activities are painful for me and difficult to do. Bending over to clean floors, pick up clothes causes back pain that makes me want to cry. Standing up and doing dishes, wiping counters, sweeping and vacuuming also causes back pain along with knee pain. Folding laundry isn't as bad but it does cause pain in my shoulders. Picking up Emma is incredibly painful but what can I tell my 3 year old daughter? That mommy hurts and can't hold her? That's the same as telling her mommy doesn't want to hold her. I can't play with her as much as I'd like to and the attention I can give her are snuggles but she's 3 and doesn't want to snuggle a lot. She wants to play and she wants to play with me. I honestly am afraid that her need from attention from me that I can't give her is causing problems.
So with these problems how do I manage? I'm honestly feeling very lost and incredibly frustrated right now. I'd love some ideas. I was thinking maybe something massage wise or other natural pain relief methods. I have no idea how to do any of that but it might help. I'm also going to talk to my doctors and see what I can do. Because this can't keep going on. Managing Fibromyalgia pain for normal people is difficult for me it might be impossible. Of course I've always been a difficult sort of person so I shouldn't be surprised!
